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Medical Group at Fishburn recognized for tobacco cessation project

June 15, 2011

Medical Group at Fishburn recognized for tobacco cessation project

Penn State Hershey Medical Group—Fishburn Road has been recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) for successfully completing a Tobacco Cessation Office Champions pilot project. With the support of the medical director, Thomas Weida the practice implemented a series of system changes to integrate tobacco cessation activities into daily office routines and create a culture that encourages patients to quit smoking.

The U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline calls on clinicians to change the culture and practice patterns in their offices to ensure that every patient who uses tobacco is identified, advised to quit, and offered evidence-based treatments.

The AAFP’s pilot project trained "office champions" to lead improvements in clinical and operational systems. Katherine M. Curci, Christine Bylweiss and Sharon Pearson took on the role of office champions for Penn State Hershey Medical Group — Fishburn Road and made a series of changes to ensure that patients who use tobacco are offered the opportunity and resources they need to quit.

“The changes Penn State Medical Group Fishburn made during this project could impact their patients for years to come,” said Tom Houston, chair of the AAFP’s Tobacco Cessation Advisory Committee.

Penn State Hershey Medical Group — Fishburn Road was one of only 50 family medicine offices across the United States selected to participate in the Office Champions pilot project. The results of the project, which is supported by a grant from Pfizer Inc., will be disseminated to family medicine practices nationwide.

Want to quit? Getting help can increase your chance of successfully quitting. Call 717-531-8181 to schedule an appointment.